Monochromatic Sympathy

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder card for CAS Watercolour November challenge - Monochromatic, hosted by the lovely Karen.

Today is all about gray.  I used a beautiful Penny Black flower stamp called together, inked it lightly with smoky slate ink, spritzed with a little water, and stamped onto mixed media paper.  I repeated the process, this time using a darker shade of gray (basic gray) to give some contrast.  The watercoloured panel was adhered to a light gray card base and framed with the same gray.  I thought this would be a beautiful sympathy card, adding my sentiment in versamark and heat embossing in white.

Close-up ...

It's been fun trying out monochromatic designs, something I have rarely done.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Check out the reminder post for more inspiration from our Designers and Guest Designer, Birgit.  There's still over a week to play along before the challenge closes.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  together (Penny Black);
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Smoky Slate card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Smoky slate, basic gray (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools: water mister, Rectangle frame die (Spellbinders), white embossing powder heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour November Challenge - Monochromatic

Oxidized Metal

Hi everyone.  Today is a reminder for the CAS Mix Up November challenge - Oxidized Metal, which is hosted by the super talented Susan (Cats Inkcorporated).

There are a couple of video tutorials on the challenge blog if you want to give one of them a try.

I started with a piece of plum mirror paper.  I cut a small panel and dry embossed with small tiles embossing folder.  I randomly sprinkled with silver and gold embossing powders on top, leaving lots of spaces without any powder.  I heat embossed to melt the powders and then ran Staz-On black ink over top, which caught the tops of the dry embossing.  I die-cut my maple leaf and inlaid it into my card front.  Stamped a simple sentiment to finish.

Close-up ...

I love the artsy look of this technique.  Makes a perfect masculine card.  Hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our amazing Designers, and our wonderful Guest Designer, Arlene.

Stamps:  Brushed Wishes (Stampendous)
Paper:  Midnight Plum Mirror Card Gloss Effect (Tonic); white card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Black (Memento); Staz-on Black
Accessories & Tools:  Mini tile embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Silver embossing powder, Gold embossing powder, heat tool, Maple Leaf Thanks die (Neat & Tangled)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up November Challenge - Oxidized Metal

Copper Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing the birthday card I made for my oldest son, Evan.  His birthday is coming up soon and I wanted to make something with heated copper, which he will appreciate.

I started by creating a stencil monoprint background with a mini tiles stencil, using Lindy's magicals.  The colours are very intense and also very sparkly.  I thought they would work really well with the copper.  I die-cut a fern leaf from a heated copper sheet and attached it to the card front.  A simple sentiment is heat embossed in copper to match.

Close-up ...

I was inspired by two of the CAS Challenges to make this card ...

CAS Mix Up

... and ...

CAS Stencil

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Lindy's Magicals (Bachelor Button Blue, Sassy Sapphire, Tiffanylou's Blue); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Mini Tile Texture stencil (TCW), water mister, copper sheet, mini blow torch, Pair of Ferns die (Cheery Lynn), copper embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up
CAS Stencil

Jessie's First Photo Shoot

Hi everyone.  Today's post is all about Jessie (no card), so feel free to close out if you're not interested.

Jessie (6 mos.) had her first official photo shoot with Alex (photographer extraordinaire!).  The photo above is Jessie sitting on my (back) deck chair ... making herself nice and comfortable. :)  Below is another shot of her sitting in the same chair.

We have a beautiful red maple tree in our front yard that has dropped all it's leaves this time of year.  It makes a perfect backdrop for the photo shoot.  Isn't Jessie pretty??!!

I'm so happy with the photos.  Amazing work Alex!!

Also a photo of Jessie and Violeta (my grand-doggie) ...

... and one of Violeta by herself.

I will also share a photo of Violeta and Tessa (my friend Susan's dog), under the maple tree in my front card, that Alex took back in 2016.  They were both puppies at the time.  You can see in the photo above, how Violeta has matured (and mellowed!).  Tessa looks exactly the same to me now as she did then.  And she didn't get much bigger either.  They are both such pretty girls!

All photos by Alejandro Garcia Photography, copyrighted.